Latest news with #CliveLewis
The Guardian
4 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Labour using Brexit to weaken nature laws, MPs say
Labour is using post-Brexit freedoms to override EU nature laws and allow chalk streams and nightingale habitats to be destroyed, MPs have said. The planning and infrastructure bill going through parliament will allow developers to circumvent EU-derived environmental protections and instead pay into a nature restoration fund. This would override the habitats directive, which protects animals including otters, salmon and dormice. Under the new bill it will be possible to pay into the fund and build over their habitats. The bill also allows potential development of EU-designated sites including sites of special scientific interest and special protection areas. This week the Guardian revealed that the bill poses a threat to 5,251 areas known as 'jewels in the crown' for nature. They include cherished natural landscapes such as the New Forest, the Surrey Heaths, the Peak District Moors and the Forest of Bowland, and rivers such as the Itchen in Hampshire and the Wensum in Norfolk. The Office for Environmental Protection, the nature watchdog set up to replace EU checks and balances, has warned that the bill would be a 'regression' in terms environmental protection. Clive Lewis, the Labour MP for Norwich South, said the public did not realise Brexit was being used to weaken nature laws. 'I don't think people have made the connection about Brexit,' he said. 'What we, the Labour government, are doing with Brexit is using it in such a poor way. We've already seen it with water standards, pesticide standards over the last eight years, but this just turbocharges it all. 'There's a sense we are able to get away with it because it's not what people expect us to do. There is immediate outrage from the public when the Tories do it. People are confused when Labour does it.' He said he would be voting against the bill in its current form. 'I don't understand how anyone who is environmentally minded can vote for this bill,' Lewis said. Other political parties are planning to try to win over disaffected nature-loving Labour voters who will be disheartened to see their local green spaces concreted over before the next general election. Gideon Amos, the Liberal Democrats' planning and housing spokesperson, said: 'The government seems content to dilute protections of our waterways and local wildlife with vague promises of future benefits and little clarity about when they will materialise. With national landscapes and precious chalk streams disappearing, we need urgent action from the government, working with our European neighbours, to protect vital ecosystems which run right across Europe. 'The Liberal Democrats have long led the campaign in parliament to clean up our rivers and chalk streams. We will continue to fight for their survival with our amendments to protect chalk streams and natural habitats in this bill.' Zack Polanski, the deputy leader of the Green party, said: 'Labour are once again showing there's nothing they won't learn from Reform. Not only are they content to sell off nature to the highest bidder, they're only able to do so because they've utterly failed to defend the regulations that once protected our environment. 'This destruction is only possible because of their utter inaction on making the case for the value of EU environmental protections. From nightingales to chalk streams, our natural habitats deserve so much better than this bill – and so much better than this nature-destroying Labour party.' The Wildlife Trusts said: 'The legislation would significantly weaken important habitat regulations – rules which have helped to effectively protect wildlife and wild spaces for decades. In so doing the bill risks stripping away vital protections without clear requirements on developers to deliver the nature restoration needed to revive precious landscapes such as chalk streams, wildflower meadows and ancient woodlands, and to protect treasured species like hazel dormice, otters and struggling bird and butterfly species.'
South Wales Argus
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Chepstow and Mansfield male voice choirs perform together
The concert took place at The Drill Hall in Chepstow on May 5, bank holiday Monday. More than 50 choristers from Chepstow Male Voice Choir (CMVC) and Mansfield Male Voice Choir joined together to perform. The audience included Chepstow's deputy mayor. CMVC invited Mansfield to come and join them for this joint concert, finishing off their tour of Cardiff and the surrounding areas. Both choirs played together in a joint performance but also performed separately. The evening also featured Clive Lewis playing the cornet. This event was organised after the two choirs performed for the charity last year at The Royal Albert Hall in London. Bill Evans, CMVC events manager said: "They are a top choir and have invited us to join them in Manfield in 2027". Kirsten Watson, the musical director at Chepstow Male Voice Choir, said: "The day was outstandingly successful in showing our Welsh hospitality, of camaraderie between choristers and musicians and the resulting concert of wonderful music making."
The Independent
30-04-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Labour MP given formal reminder after sharing post about Israel and Keir Starmer
A Labour MP has been reprimanded for sharing a social media post accusing party leader Sir Keir Starmer of being influenced by Israel. The post, which Labour condemned for containing "incorrect and unacceptable tropes," prompted a formal reminder of conduct for MP Clive Lewis. The party confirmed that Lewis has "rightly apologised for the offence caused." The post originated from the X account of historian Louise Raw, who had shared an image of a child along with the words: 'Very sorry about the photo but I want to understand how everyone isn't screaming inside. 'A precious baby still trying to smile and show love. How aren't you in tears every day @Keir_Starmer? You have kids. How are you still taking Israel's money & orders? HOW?' Mr Lewis, who has been the MP for Norwich South since 2015, reposted it before deleting it, Labour said. A community note added to the post later said the image was 'unrelated to Israel's war on Hamas' and instead showed a young Turkish boy with a rare genetic skin disorder. A party spokesperson said: 'This social media post expresses incorrect and unacceptable tropes. 'Clive Lewis MP has deleted the repost and rightly apologised for the offence caused. 'Mr Lewis has been reminded about the high standards of conduct expected by representatives of the Labour Party.'
Western Telegraph
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Western Telegraph
Labour MP given formal reminder after sharing post about Israel
The party said the message contained 'incorrect and unacceptable tropes' and that Clive Lewis had 'rightly apologised for the offence caused'. The post originated from the X account of historian Louise Raw, who had shared an image of a child along with the words: 'Very sorry about the photo but I want to understand how everyone isn't screaming inside. 'A precious baby still trying to smile and show love. How aren't you in tears every day @Keir_Starmer? You have kids. How are you still taking Israel's money & orders? HOW?' Mr Lewis, who has been the MP for Norwich South since 2015, reposted it before deleting it, Labour said. A community note added to the post later said the image was 'unrelated to Israel's war on Hamas' and instead showed a young Turkish boy with a rare genetic skin disorder. A party spokesperson said: 'This social media post expresses incorrect and unacceptable tropes. 'Clive Lewis MP has deleted the repost and rightly apologised for the offence caused. 'Mr Lewis has been reminded about the high standards of conduct expected by representatives of the Labour Party.' The MP has been contacted for comment.
The Independent
28-03-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Bill to nationalise polluting water companies blocked by Government
A proposed law that would take failing water companies back into public ownership if they repeatedly pollute Britain's waterways has been blocked. The Government did not offer its support to Clive Lewis's Water Bill, which included a series of measures to tackle water pollution, including nationalising repeat offenders. The private member's bill from the Norwich South Labour MP would have meant any firms that had three major sewage spills would have their licence terminated and be nationalised, without owners getting compensation. It would also compel the Government to ensure water is affordable, with the provision of free water 'where appropriate'. However environment minister Emma Hardy said it would cost more than £200 billion to renationalise the water industry. But Ms Hardy added the Government was committed to improving water quality and the wider industry. MPs debated the Bill for more than four hours on Friday, but Mr Lewis asked for it to be adjourned until July 4 after failing to get Government backing. She said: '(Mr Lewis) says we can do it better, we can do it better, we absolutely can. This Labour Party was elected on a manifesto for change, it was elected with a plan for change. The Labour Party was created to serve working people and the working class, and it's our duty to do that.' She added: 'So I want to make one thing clear if nothing else, this Government is absolutely committed to improving the performance of the water sector.' She said the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs estimated it would cost £99 billion to buy capital assets, as well as £104 billion for already-announced investment in the water system. 'You would be talking about the £104 billion of investment over the next five years, plus the cost of acquiring assets, so I just wanted to be really clear about the figures we're using.' Mr Lewis had introduced his Bill by criticising the legacy of private ownership and said his reforms would send failing owners 'into the sunset without a penny in compensation'. He said: 'Under the Bill, if a water company breaches the terms of its licence with a major sewage discharge it can forget shareholder payouts and piling on more debt. 'Do it twice and you're in the last chance saloon. Three strikes and you're out. Licence terminated, on your bike, and those price-gouging, asset-stripping, river-killing, vulture-capitalist outfits, they'll be rolled into the sunset without a penny in compensation. 'Oh and those water infrastructure they've been sweating for private gain, back into the public realm thank you very much.' His Bill would have required the Government to publish a water strategy, establish a commission that would examine water ownership and value for money, and set up a citizens' assembly on water ownership. Mr Lewis was critical of Margaret Thatcher's privatisation, telling MPs: 'Thatcherism's shadow looms dark over our water system today.' However, he added: 'Yet whether we see ourselves standing on her shoulders or trapped in her shadow, one thing is undeniable. She proved that wealth can be made differently, and if it can be made differently once it can be made differently again.' Water companies have faced increased pressure in recent years, amid increased awareness of pollution being discharged into rivers and seas at the same time as a lack of investment in infrastructure by bosses. Bills have increased for many consumers as companies scramble for extra funds to pay for improvements. New Environment Agency figures released this week showed storm overflows spilled sewage into England's rivers, lakes and coasts for the highest number of hours on record. Less than a fortnight ago Thames Water cleared the latest hurdle in getting a £3 billion rescue loan, which will allow it to operate for another year and restructure its debt of at least £16 billion. Mr Lewis was critical of the Government's Water (Special Measures) Bill, saying it had been diluted and did not go far enough. Under the Government's Bill, which was given Royal Assent in February, company bosses could face up to two years in jail if they obstruct investigations and regulators will have strengthened powers to ban bonuses if environmental standards are not met. 'It doesn't live up to what was promised, and unfortunately it doesn't live up to what is needed. It certainly, I'm afraid, doesn't live up to its name. It's a start, but it's not a solution,' he said. Labour former minister Dame Meg Hillier said: 'The nationalisation argument sounds appealing to many on the face of it, but there is a cost, and it's not a hidden cost. 'It's a cost to those people who have bought shares in good faith, those pension funds that are investing, and there is a cost and upheaval to turning around an organisation.' Independent MP Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North) said water, which is 'an absolutely essential and basic need', should be 'completely in public hands'. Labour MP Alison Taylor (Paisley and Renfrewshire North) pointed to water being publicly owned in Scotland. Ms Taylor said: 'Since privatisation water bills in Scotland have been consistently lower than England, and customer satisfaction consistently highest for Scottish water with all other water companies trailing behind.'
